eyewear comprising a first and a second lens and a support frame for the lenses having a first and a second lateral arm and a bridge. The lateral arms and/or bridge are connected to the corresponding lenses by a respective portion for attachment made of metal wire, which has a first longitudinal insertion portion, inserting in a first through hole provided within the respective lens, and a second longitudinal portion, which is inserted in a second hole provided in the lens. The attachment portion further comprises a first transverse portion which extends bent from the first longitudinal portion downstream of the hole for the insertion thereof, and wherefrom the second longitudinal insertion portion extends bent in the through hole. The first longitudinal insertion portion is also integral with a transversely bent portion which bears against the lens on the side opposite to the first transverse portion, co-operating therewith to the secure retaining of the corresponding lens.
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26. eyewear comprising a first and a second lens and a frame for supporting said lenses, in which said support frame comprises a bridge for intermediate fastening between said lenses and means for fastening said bridge to the respective lens, said fastening means comprising a first and a second longitudinal portions of equal diameter for introduction into corresponding hole means provided in the corresponding lens; wherein said fastening means comprise a perpendicular connecting portion with respective ends for joining to said first and second longitudinal fastening portions; and said first and second longitudinal fastening portions are inserted in corresponding equal-diameter first and second circular holes in the corresponding lens.
1. eyewear comprising:
lens means;
a supporting frame for said lens means,
said support frame comprising a first and a second lateral arm and means for fastening the respective arm to said lens means,
said fastening means comprising a first and a second longitudinal portions, of approximately equal outside diameter, inserted into corresponding hole means provided in said lens means;
a perpendicular connecting portion which has respective ends for joining to said first and said second longitudinal fastening portion; and
first and second holes, of approximately equal diameter and having an interior diameter corresponding to the outside diameter, in each of a lens of said lens means, wherein,
said first and second longitudinal fastening portions are inserted in a corresponding one of the first and second holes of each lens in said lens means.
29. eyewear comprising:
two lenses each with first and second equal-diameter circular holes;
a frame, with first and second lateral arms, supporting the two lenses;
fasteners connecting each of the lateral arms to a respective one of the first and second lenses,
the fasteners comprising two equal-diameter longitudinal portions inserted into corresponding ones of the first and second holes;
hinge means are provided between each arm and the respective fastener,
said hinge means comprise receiving means and insertion means for insertion into said receiving means which receiving means and insertion means are able to rotate relative to each other,
said receiving means comprising a first annular portion and a second annular portion vertically distances from each other, and
said insertion means comprises a corresponding pivot portion inserted in said first and second annular portions.
48. A method for obtaining eyewear comprising a first and a second lens and a supporting frame for said lenses in which said support frame comprises a first and a second lateral arm connected by means of a corresponding hinge to the respective, and a bridge element for intermediate connection between said lenses, to obtain the portion for the attachment of the bridge to the respective lenses, the method comprises:
starting from a substantially pre-formed bridge which comprises a main portion wherefrom a first and a second rectilinear lateral portions extend laterally, inserting said first and second rectilinear lateral portions into the lower holes of the respective lenses;
bending backwards said rectilinear lateral portions, in such a way as to define corresponding intermediate portions lying in correspondence with the front face of the corresponding lens; and
inserting said back-bent portions into the corresponding upper hole of the respective lens, the lower and upper holes having the same diameter.
45. A method for obtaining an eyewear comprising a first and a second lens, a supporting frame comprising a first and a second lateral arm connected by a corresponding hinge to the respective lenses, and a bridge element intermediately fastening between said lenses, to obtain a portion connected the lateral arms to corresponding ones of the lenses, the method comprising:
inserting an elongated metallic wire into a first, temple hole provided in the lens;
executing a bending operation to obtain an intermediate portion positioned substantially parallel to the front face of the corresponding lens and wherefrom extends a back-bent segment;
providing such a thrust as to cause the the back-bent segment into a second hole provided in the lens, in order to define a first longitudinal portion of the metal wire inserted through the first hole, and a second longitudinal portion inserted into the second hole, the first and second holes having the same diameter, a main portion of the wire extending out from a rear face of the lens.
41. Method for obtaining an eyewear comprising a first and a second lens and a supporting frame for said lenses in which said support frame comprises a first and a second lateral arm connected by means of a corresponding hinge to the respective lens, and a bridge element for intermediate fastening between said lenses wherein, in order to obtain the portion for attaching the bridge to the respective lenses, starting from an elongated metal wire, the method comprises the steps of:
inserting said elongated metal wire into a first, upper one of two holes within one of the lenses;
executing a bending operation to obtain a first transverse portion that is positioned substantially parallel to the front face of the corresponding one lens and wherefrom a back-bent segment extends,
providing such a thrust as to cause the back-bent segment to be inserted into a second, lower one of the two holes in such a way as to result in a first longitudinal portion of the metal wire extending through the upper hole, and a second longitudinal portion inserted through the second, lower hole, the first and the second holes being of equal diameter.
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said first and a second lateral arms are each connected to respective ones of said first longitudinal portions, and
said second longitudinal portions have an unconnected free terminal end opposite the end joined to the perpendicular connecting portion.
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25. Means for connecting the arm, the bridge or the hinge to a front part of the eyewear, to corresponding lens means, wherein they are obtained according to
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42. A method as claimed in
further comprising rotating the lenses substantially by 90° in order to position the lenses substantially coplanar to each other, in a corresponding utilization condition, thereby defining transversely bent portions, and wherein,
after insertion through the second, lower hole, said second longitudinal portion is bent downwards to obtain a support seat for a corresponding nose piece.
43. A method as claimed in
44. A method as claimed in
46. A method as claimed in
the method further provides for bending the main portion of the wire, extending out the rear face of the lens, outwardly in order to obtain a transverse bent-back portion, and wherein,
the free end of the main portion is bent in such a way as to obtain a pivot portion for hinging the arm, said pivot portion extends vertically and is bent backwards in correspondence with the end, in such a way as to have a first and a second back-bent portions, between which are held a first coil-shaped portion, on the extension of the body of the arm, and a second coil-shaped portion integral with said first coil-shaped portion and vertically distanced therefrom; said coil shaped portions being wound about said vertical pivot portion.
47. A method as claimed in
49. The method of
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The present invention relates in particular to an eyewear of the kind known as “rimless”. The present invention also concerns a fastening system which is particularly, but not exclusively, usable in said rimless eyewear.
From French Patent Application No. 2723649, an eyewear is known, of the type known as rimless, which exhibits a metal wire support structure, in which the lenses are connected to the lateral arms and to the intermediate connecting bridge element, between said lenses, by means of a respective attachment portion which has a first longitudinal pivot part that is inserted into a first through hole of the lens and a second longitudinal pivot part that is inserted in a second through hole provided in the respective lens. Said first and second pivot are inserted in the corresponding hole from the front part, which is oriented, in the use, towards the user's face.
In the eyewear described in said French Patent Application No. 2723649, from the side opposite to that of insertion of said pivots, corresponding caps are also inserted in said holes, which caps are held in the holes by means of glue and allow to retain the lens to the supporting frame.
Such an attachment system between the support frame and the lenses, however, is excessively complex and requires the use of glue and of an excessive number of components. Moreover in case the adhesion of said glue subsequently lacks the connection or fastening between the lenses and the supporting frame is completely disassembled.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an eyewear is provided comprising lens means and a frame for supporting said lens means, in which said support frame comprises a first and a second lateral arms and means for fastening the respective arm to said lens means, said fastening means comprising a first and a second longitudinal portions for introduction into corresponding hole means provided in said lens means, characterised in that a perpendicular connection portion is provided, which has respective ends for joining to said first and second longitudinal fastening portions, and in that said first and second longitudinal fastening portions are inserted into corresponding first and second holes in said lens means.
Further provided is an eyewear comprising a first and a second lens and a supporting frame for said first and second lens, in which said support frame comprises a bridge for intermediate fastening between said lenses, and means for fastening said bridge to the respective lens, said fastening means comprising a first and a second longitudinal portion for introduction into corresponding hole means provided in the corresponding lens; characterised in that said fastening means comprise a perpendicular connection portion, which has respective ends for joining to said first and second longitudinal fastening portions; and in that said first and second longitudinal fastening portions are inserted into corresponding first and second hole in the corresponding lens.
In practice, according to the present advantageous aspect, the provided configuration of the means for fastening the frame to the corresponding lens enables to obtain a connection that allows a perfect securing of the lens, without any risks of loosening.
There are no provisions for the use of glues, screws and corresponding parts, and the drawbacks caused by such components employed in prior art eyeglasses are avoided.
Other advantageous aspects of the present eyewear are described in the other claims.
The present invention further relates to a method for the construction of an eyewear or at least of a part thereof and to a hinge for the rotation of the arm of the eyewear.
The present invention further relates to a system or means for connecting the arm, the bridge or the hinge to the front part, preferably directly to lens means, of the eyewear.
The invention, in its technical features and in its different advantageous aspects, shall become more readily apparent from the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show embodiments provided purely by way of non limiting examples, in which:
In accordance with
The reference L in
In accordance with this first preferred embodiment, the frame comprises a first and a second lateral arm 14, 14, which are connected by means of a corresponding hinge 14′, to the respective lens 12, 12, and a bridge element 15 for intermediate connection between said lenses 12, 12.
As shown in particular in
In turn, said bridge element 15 is connected to the corresponding lenses 12, 12 by means of respective first and second lateral attachment portions 17, 17, made of metal wire, both of which have a first longitudinal portion 20 for insertion into a corresponding first through hole 21, provided in the respective lens 12, and a second longitudinal part 24 which is inserted into a second through hole 25 provided in the respective lens 12, 12.
Said longitudinal insertion portion provide for retaining the lenses in the transverse direction.
Advantageously, said portions 16, 16 for attaching the arms 14, 14, to the respective lenses 12, 12 comprise, each, a respective first transverse portion 26 of said metal wire, which extends bent perpendicularly from said first longitudinal portion 18, downstream of said hole 21 for the insertion thereof, and which is positioned substantially parallel to the corresponding front face of the lens 12, 12.
Moreover, as shown, from said transverse portion 26 extends the aforementioned second longitudinal insertion portion 22, which extends bent into the second through hole 23 provided in the respective lens 12.
As
Moreover, in similar fashion, said portions 17, 17 for attaching the bridge 15 to the corresponding lens 12, 12, comprise, each, a respective first transverse portion 28 of said metal wire, which extends bent from said first longitudinal portion 20, downstream of said hole 21 for the insertion thereof, which is positioned substantially parallel to the corresponding face of the lens 12, 12, and wherefrom said second longitudinal insertion portion 24 extends bent into the second through hole 25 provided in the respective lens 12, 12.
In this way, the metal wire provides a sort of “stitch” which allows to retain the corresponding lens firmly and securely.
Moreover, as said
As said
As the aforementioned
Said vertically bent portion 34 for supporting a nose support organ, or nose piece, 36 is generally shaped as a “U”, with upwardly converging branches, in such a way as to provide a seat for receiving the nose piece 36.
As
As shown in particular in
Moreover, the parts 18, 20, 22, 24 for insertion into a corresponding hole 19, 21, 23, 25 of the lens 12, 12 extend mutually parallel, whilst said holes 19, 21, 23, 25 for receiving the aforementioned insertion portions extend substantially perpendicular to the outer and inner surfaces of the lens 12a, 12b. According to the present first preferred embodiment, said transverse intermediate portions 26, 28, of said metal wire, extend substantially according to the vertical direction, with reference to an eyewear in conditions of use.
Moreover, the diameter of the bole 19, 21, 23, 25 may be suitably greater than the diameter of the insertion portion 18, 20, 22, 24, to facilitate mounting operations. In particular, the holes 19, 23, for inserting the first longitudinal portion 18, 20, may also have a greater diameter than that of the holes 21, 25 for receiving the second longitudinal portion 20, 24, in order to facilitate sliding even more during mounting operations.
According to a preferred embodiment, the metal wire may be obtained with a diameter of 0.7 mm, whilst of said insertion holes provided in the respective lens, the larger one for first insertion may have a diameter of 0.8 mm, and the other hole may have a diameter of 0.75 mm.
In regard to the means for attaching the arm to the lens, it is further observed that, advantageously, said first longitudinal insertion portion 18 extends in a hole 19 positioned below the hole 23 for said second longitudinal insertion portion 22, whilst, in regard to the means for attaching the bridge to the respective lens, it is observed that, advantageously, the first longitudinal insertion portion 20 extends in a hole 21 positioned above the hole 25 for the second longitudinal insertion portion 24.
According to a further advantageous aspect, each hinge 14′ for the rotation of the arm 14 comprises a portion, of said portion 16 for attachment to the corresponding lens 12, which extends vertically in such a way as to define an articulation pivot 40 for an end hinging portion of the arm 14. The hinging end of said arm 14 comprises a first portion shaped as a coil 46 on the extension of the longitudinal body of the arm 14, which is held in the vertical direction by the second backward-bent portion 42 at the upper end of the pivot 40, and a second portion shaped as a coil 48, which is held in the vertical direction by the second backward-bent portion 44, at the lower end of the pivot 40.
As
Said first and second coil portions 46, 48 are wound about the pivot portion 40 and are mutually connected through a vertical connecting portion 50 defining, with said backward-bent portions 42, 44 of the pivot portion 40, means for arresting the opening rotation of the corresponding arm 14.
As
With further advantage, the second coil portion 48, wound about the vertical pivot 40, has a terminal segment 48″ that extends downstream of said segment 48′ situated internally or above the lower horizontal portion 54 of the loop 48 and which is bent vertically downward, in such a way as to define a gripping hook for the corresponding horizontal portion 54.
The present support frame has arms that are essentially in the form of an elongated body composed by a single metal wire. Hence, the arm is definitely flexible. A metal wire is used whose diameter ranges between 0.7 and 0.9 mm, and is preferably equal to 0.7 mm.
In this way, an arm is obtained which has considerable flexural elasticity. This characteristic allows to obtain an arm that, during its positioning on the user's face and its removal therefrom—when the eyewear is gripped on at least an arm—is able to be deformed to a considerable extent, in a flexural manner, without transmitting excessive stresses to the lens. The lenses do not risk breakage and can be fabricated with very small thickness, for instance ranging between 1 mm and 3.5 mm. One thereby obtains a very light eyewear that inconvenience the user to a very limited extent only.
According to another aspect, the current portions for attachment to the lenses allow firmly to grip said lenses, thereby considerably distributing the stresses that are transmitted to the lenses. No excessive stress peaks, comparable to those imparted to the corresponding lenses by the connection systems employed in prior art eyeglasses, are produced. It is therefore possible to reduce the diameter of the holes and/or the thickness of the lenses relative to the stresses produced according to the prior art.
A metal wire can be used, to obtain the means of attachment or connection to the lenses, which has an advantageously small diameter, relative to those used in eyeglasses according to the prior art.
The rotation hinge of the arm is obtained with a limited quantity of wire and is therefore definitely light to the advantage of the overall weight of the eyewear. Moreover, the present hinge has a considerable degree of strength.
According to a first preferred method for assembling the present pair of eyeglasses, the mounting process provides for starting from the bridge element 15 for intermediate connection between the lenses. As
Thereupon, a bending operation is executed, with substantially right angles or similar, to obtain said first transverse portion 28, and which provides a segment 15b, bent backwards, which is substantially parallel to the main portion 15a of the metal wire 15″. The wire 15″ could also, alternatively, be bent beforehand, avoiding said bending operation.
As
At this point, one bends downwards the secondary portion 15b, which defines the vertical portion 34 and which is bent into a “U” shape, thereby obtaining said support seat for the nose piece 36.
As
As shown in
At this point, as
The lenses 12, 12 are then rotated substantially by 90°, in such a way as to position them in the coplanar position of
At this point, the portion 16 for the attachment of a first arm 14 can be constructed. As
As shown in
After the completion of the insertion operation, the portion 14a is bent outwards, in order to obtain the transverse portion 30 for retaining the lens 12. Thereupon, the free end of said portion 14a is bent, in such a way as to obtain the pivot portion for the hinging of the arm, as described above.
Otherwise, operating in an alternative manner, it is possible to start from a metal wire whose pivot portion has already been obtained and whereto the arm has already been connected. In this case, the free end of the metal wire is inserted into the lower hole 19, the metal wire portion which passed beyond said hole 19 is bent, in order to obtain the back-bent portion 22—which is then inserted into the corresponding hole 23—and the first transverse portion 26. One then thrusts, in the opposite direction from the previous one, to insert said longitudinal portion 22 into said hole 23, and lastly the wire is bent laterally upstream of the hole 19, to define the transverse portion 30 for longitudinally retaining the lens. This alternative procedure is not shown in the accompanying drawings. The attachment of the other arm 14 is obtained in similar fashion.
As the subsequent
Said first and second rectilinear lateral portions 115b and 115c are inserted into the lower holes 21, 21 of the respective lenses 12, 12, and, then, bent in such a way as to define corresponding intermediate portions 28, 28.
The free, back-bent end of said lateral portions is then inserted in the corresponding upper hole 25, 25 of the respective lens 12, 12, as shown in FIG. 17.
At this point, the lenses 12, 12 are rotated substantially by 90°, in such a way as to bring them from the mutually parallel position, shown in
The mounting of the bridge on the lenses is thereby extremely simplified.
The small thickness of the metal wire further facilitates the formation and precision of execution of the bends.
The metallic material of the frame wire, which is elastically flexible and able to be plastically deformed in order to impart the necessary preparatory bends, is preferably selected from the following materials: titanium and harmonic steel, to the advantage of the weight and elasticity of the frame.
A second preferred embodiment 100 of an eyewear is shown in the subsequent
As shown, said lenses 112, 112 have a circular profile. Although the circular conformation is particularly preferred, to obtain determined advantageous effects in accordance with the present second embodiment it is in any case sufficient, as shall become more readily apparent hereafter, for the lens means 112, 112 to be provided with a respective peripheral edge 113 which has at least a portion of its profile having an arched or inclined conformation. The individual lens could therefore have a polygonal outer profile.
The numerical references 112a and 112b indicate, in the accompanying figures, respectively, an external lateral area of the lens, destined to the attachment of the corresponding arm 114 to the respective lens 112, and an internal lateral area of the lens, which is destined to the attachment of the bridge 115 for fastening between the lenses, as shall become more readily apparent hereafter.
To facilitate the description, the reference M indicates a median plane that passes through the median points of the lenses (indicated with the reference in the figure) and that is oriented substantially horizontal, when the eyewear is in the worm condition. This horizontal orientation of said plane M corresponding to a condition of the eyewear as normally worm, for instance on a standard test head or by a user who looks forward normally.
The eyewear 100 also has a suitable supporting frame for said lens means 112, 112, which comprises a first and a second lateral arms 114, 114, and an intermediate fastening bridge 115 between said lenses 112, 112.
As shown, means are provided for fastening the respective arm 114, 114 to said lens means 112, 112 and means for fastening said bridge 115 to the respective lens 112, 112.
The fastening means of the arm and of the bridge comprise respective first and second longitudinal portions 118, 122 or 120, 124 for introduction into corresponding hole means provided in said lens means 112, 112, in particular for insertion into corresponding first and second hole 119, 123 or 121, 125 in said lens means 112, 112.
According to the present embodiment, moreover, a perpendicular connection portion 126 or 128 is advantageously provided, which has an end for its junction to said first longitudinal portion 118, 120 and an opposite end for its junction to said second longitudinal portion 122, 124.
As shown, according to the present preferred embodiment, said perpendicular connection portion 126, 128 is able to extend in correspondence with the outer or front surface 112″ of said lens means 112, 112.
According to the present preferred embodiment, this perpendicular fastening portion 126, 128 defines means for retaining in the longitudinal direction acting, advantageously, on the front or upstream side 112″ of said lens means 112, 112.
As
Advantageously, as shown in particular in the subsequent
In particular, as said
In accordance with a further aspect, not shown in the accompanying figures, one could also image providing, in the lenses, holes for the insertion of a respective pair of longitudinal attachment pivots that are not mutually parallel. In this way one obtains a configuration that allows to prevent, to the greatest extent, the extraction of the pivots from the holes of the lenses.
As
In practice, as shown in particular in
In accordance with the second preferred embodiment shown herein, it is correspondingly provided for said first and second hole 119, 123, for the insertion of the respective longitudinal portions 118, 122, to be positioned substantially equidistant from the peripheral edge 113 of the respective lens means 112, 112. Therefore, according to the present preferred embodiment said first and second hole 119, 123 for insertion of the respective longitudinal portions 118, 122 have the corresponding circular sections, which are transverse to the longitudinal axes of said holes, whose centres are connected by an imaginary line that extends substantially parallel to the peripheral edge of the respective lens means 112, 112.
Although the previous embodiment is particularly advantageous and preferred, one could also image introducing said longitudinal pivots substantially equidistant from the corresponding area of the peripheral profile, while remaining inside hole means having a different configuration from the one shown, for instance hole means constituted by a single oblong introduction hole for both said pivots. Said oblong hole extending parallel to the edge of the profile of the lens.
Advantageously, according to the present preferred embodiment, said fastening means are connected to the respective lens in a point or zone, which is particularly close to the edge of the lens and which is located above the horizontal medium plane M which passes through the centre of gravity of the lens. In this case, the fastening means are located in a particularly peripheral position and hinder the user's view only to a minimal extent.
In this second embodiment as well, the respective perpendicular portion 126, 128, downstream of said lens means 112, extends bent back from said first longitudinal portion 118, 120, whilst said second longitudinal portion 122, 124 extends bent back from said downstream perpendicular portion 126, 128 in the second hole 123, 125 provided in said lens means 112, 112.
As shown, also the second embodiment of the eyewear is provided with fastening means comprising a respective transverse portion 130, 132 that extends from said first longitudinal portion 118, 120 on the interior or rear side 112′ of said lens means 112, 112.
Said transverse upstream portion 130, 132 defines advantageous retaining means in the longitudinal direction on the rear or upstream side of said lens means 112, 112. Said retaining means in the longitudinal direction on the upstream or interior side to the lens means 112, 112 are defined, according to the present second preferred embodiment, by a respective arched junction segment, 130′ or 132′, of said upstream transverse portion, with said first longitudinal portion 118, 120.
As shown, each first longitudinal portion 118, 120 of the respective fastening means extends folded substantially perpendicular from said transverse portion 130, 132.
Also in this second preferred embodiment of eyewear, hinge means 114′ are provided between each arm 114, 114 and the respective means for fastening to the lens means 112, 112, which hinge means allow the rotation of the arm 114, 114, in a plane parallel to the plane M, between a closed position (shown in dashed line in
As shown, said hinge means 114′ are obtained in correspondence with the end of said transverse portion 130, which is opposite to the end for attachment to said lens means 112.
As the aforementioned
Said bent-back end portion 114a extends towards the portion defining the hinge 114′ and allows to position the respective arm in an appropriate transverse position, without the need excessively to extend in width the lenses or the means 130 for supporting the hinges, which extend from the respective lenses. Moreover, an eyewear having a pleasing conformation from the aesthetic point of view is thereby obtained.
As shown, said transverse extension 114a extends, from said hinge means 114′, starting from a vertically distanced point, relative to the point of attachment to said hinge means 114′, from said transverse portion 130.
As can be observed also with reference to
As shown in the respective figures, in this second preferred embodiment the insertion means comprise a corresponding vertical pivot portion 140 that is inserted into said annular portions 146, 148.
In particular in accordance with the present second embodiment, said pivot means 140, extend vertically by said fixed means 130 for connecting to the lens, while said annular portions 146, 148 are provided at the end of the respective arm 114 and are connected to each other through a connecting vertical portion 150.
In particular, in accordance with the present second preferred embodiment, the pivot means 140, which extend from said means 130 fixed to the lens, are connected to said transverse portion 130 through a junction portion 144, which extends longitudinally or substantially at a right angle relative to said transverse portion 130. In this way, the construction of this particular hinge is simplified.
In this second preferred embodiment, in order to provide a retaining action in the vertical direction, said annular portion 146, 148 are positioned between a first upper longitudinal portion 142 and a lower longitudinal portion 144, defining said portion providing junction to said fixed means 130.
In this second preferred embodiment the bridge 115 is substantially similar to the bridge of the first preferred embodiment and therefore it is not necessary to describe it again in detail. The bridge of this second preferred embodiment differs from the bridge of the first preferred embodiment only in that, in this second preferred embodiment, the downward-bent portion, to define means for supporting the respective nose piece, does not engage, as was instead the case in the first preferred embodiment, the interior or upstream portion of the respective lens.
Obviously, this second preferred embodiment of eyewear is obtained with a metal wire that has, in a preferred and advantageous manner, the characteristics of the wire of the first preferred embodiment illustrated above.
The subsequent
In accordance to this third and advantageous embodiment of hinge 214′ shown in
In particular, as shown in said
Although the present embodiment is a particularly preferred one, the ring 246, which extends from the arm 214, could also be positioned in the lower position and the ring 248, which extends from the means for fastening to the lens, could also be positioned in the upper position.
As shown, said annular portions 246, 248 advantageously receive pivot or insertion portions 240b, 240a, which extend from the other element to be connected.
In practice, the means fixed to the lens 212 comprise, in addition to the annular portion 248, a short pivot portion 240b which is inserted in the annular portion 246, that is integral with the arm 214, whilst said arm 214 has a short pivot portion 240a, which is inserted in the annular portion 248 of said means 230 integral with the lens 212.
The present third embodiment of hinge is particularly easy to construct and mount. The execution of a single annular portion on a respective element to be joined allows to execute a number of minimal bends or curves on the individual element, allowing to operate in an easier manner on the metal wire to be bent. Overall, therefore, a greater working speed is obtained for the construction of the components of the present articulation hinge. Moreover, the mounting of the present hinge can be performed more rapidly; it is sufficient to insert, simultaneously, the individual pivots in the annular portions of the other element of the articulated connection, conveniently exploiting the flexibility of the metal wire material whereof the parts of the present hinge are made.
As shown, said annular portion 246 and said pivot portion 240a of said arm 214 are connected by means of a respective connecting portion, which comprises a substantially vertical portion 250a extending from the respective annular portion 246 and an oblique portion 251a for junction to said pivot portion 240a. In similar fashion, said annular portion 248 and said pivot portion 240b integral with said means 230 for fastening to the lens 212 are connected by means of a respective connecting portion, which comprises a substantially vertical portion 250b extending from the respective annular portion 248 and an oblique portion 251b providing junction to said pivot portion 240b.
Means are provided for arresting the rotation of said arm in the open position, corresponding to the condition of use of the eyewear, in which the respective arm extends in the longitudinal direction. For this purposes, said connecting portion between the annular element 246 and the pivot portion 240a of the arm and said connecting portion between the annular element 248 and the pivot portion 240b of the means 230 fixed to the lens 212 are made in such a way as to intersect and interfere with each other defining said means for arresting the angular rotation of the arm 214.
Moreover, in this third embodiment of hinge it is advantageously provided for said oblique portions 251a, 251b, providing junction to the respective pivot portion 240a, 240b of the arm 214 and of the fixed means for fastening to the lens 212, to engage the interior and opposite surfaces of the annular portions 246, 248 of the other element defining retaining means in the vertical direction. Moreover, a hook portion 252 extends from the end pivot portion 240b of the arm 214 and goes to envelop the annular element 248 fixed to the lens providing respective retaining means in the vertical direction. Said hook means 252 being able to slide during the opening and closing of the respective arm on the exterior surface of the annular element 248.
This third preferred embodiment of hinge is preferably obtained with a metal wire having the characteristics of the metal wire illustrated with reference to the first and the second preferred embodiment of eyewear indicated above.
In the subsequent
In particular, as shown in
Differently from the third embodiment of hinge, the upper ring 446, which extends from the transverse end portion 414a of the arm, is obtained from a curved segment which, once the ring 446 has been constructed, extends downwards without being superposed to said portion 414a or initial segment of the annular element 446.
In similar fashion, the lower annular element 448 is obtained from a curved portion, which extends from the transverse portion 430 and which, after defining said annular element, extends upwards without passing underneath said transverse portion 430 or initial segment of the annular element 448.
In practice, said annular portions 446, 448 are obtained by means of a bent-back portion, which is curved until reaching in substantial correspondence with the portion, wherefrom it extends, and subsequently bent upwards, to define corresponding extension portions towards the opposite ring 448 and 446.
In this fourth embodiment as well, said annular portions 446, 448 receive by insertion, respectively, the pivot portions 440b and 440a which extend from the other element to be connected.
In essence, in this fourth embodiment as well, the means fixed to the lens 412 have, downstream of said annular element 448, an end pivot portion 440b, which is inserted internally to the annular portion 446 of the annular element, that is integral with the arm 414. In turn, the arm 414 has, in addition to the annular element 446, an end pivot portion 440a, which provided downstream of said annular element 446 and which is inserted in the annular element 448, i.e. in the inner hole provided by said annular portion 448. In this way an easily obtained articulation connection is defined, suitable for allowing a rotation of the arm relative to the lens in a substantially horizontal plane.
Between the annular element 446 and the corresponding pivot portion 440a for the insertion of the arm 414, a first oblique portion 450a, extending from said annular element 446, and a second oblique portion 451a extending from said portion 450a are provided, to define, with its end part, said pivot portion 440a and which is bent back in such a way as to define a corner portion with said first oblique portion 450a.
In a similar manner between the annular portion 448 and the pivot portion 440b of the means fixed to the lens 412, there are a first oblique portion 450b, which extends from the annular element 448, and a second oblique portion 451b, which extends from said first oblique portion 450b and defines, with its end portion, said pivot element 451b and which also defines, with said first oblique portion 450b, a corner or “U” shaped configuration.
Retaining means in the vertical direction are defined by said second oblique portions 451a and 451b, which engage the upper and, respectively, lower surface of the ring 448 and of the ring 446.
In practice, said oblique portions cooperate with the portions of said ring that are oriented vertically towards the inner part of said connection, i.e. towards the other annular element.
A hook element 452 extends from the end of the pivot element 440b and winds, on the exterior side, the annular element 446 of the arm 414, relative whereto it is able to slide during the opening and closing phases, i.e. during the rotation of the arm relative to the corresponding lens means.
A secure retaining action in the vertical direction is thereby obtained.
In order to arrest the rotation of the arm in the open arm position, suitable to guarantee the placement of the eyewear on the user's head, said inclined or oblique portions 450a, 450b of the arm come in contact or engage the oblique portions 450b and 451b of the means fixed to the lens, as shown in FIG. 27.
In practice, said oblique portions 450b and 451b of the means fixed to the lens are positioned substantially according to a vertical and longitudinal plane and said oblique means 450a and 451a, which extend from said portion 414a, that is oriented substantially perpendicular or with an angle greater than 90° relative to the main body of the arm 414, engage said oblique portions 450b and 451b, when, after being rotated according to a substantially horizontal plane, they are also positioned according to a vertical and longitudinal plane.
As show, in this fourth embodiment of articulation hinge 414′ said annular portions 446, 448 are defined by an arched portion, which develops substantially on a plane of lay and from one of whose end extends, in substantially perpendicular or inclined direction, a respective junction portion 450a, 450b, without any superposition of parts of said annular o and/or junction portions.
In practice, in this fourth embodiment of hinge, since the vertically directed portions, which extend from the respective rings 446, 448, do not wind at all about said rings, before extending in the opposite direction, they are particularly quick and easy to obtain.
Moreover, since the means for arresting the rotation of said arm are defined substantially by the entire retaining surface of the opposite first and second oblique portion, a uniform distribution of the stresses on the different parts of the present hinge is obtained, with lesser risk of causing breakage or disassembly due to localised overstresses.
With the present embodiment of eyewear, there is no need to use adhesive material or glues of any kind. Also avoided is the use of caps, screws or rivets, provided in prior art embodiments, structurally simplifying the fastening system and facilitating mounting operations.
Moreover, the present fastening allows to distribute the retaining stresses, that the attachment of the frame imparts to the lens, on a larger surface around the hole, relative to the prior art, enabling to minimise the stresses that the fastening exerts on the lenses.
Preferably and advantageously, in the preferred embodiments illustrated above, the arms, the intermediate bridges between the lenses, said portions of the frame for attachment to the lens means, the hinge for the rotation of the arms, are made of a metal wire, which has a diameter ranging between 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm, is preferably equal to 0.7 mm, and is preferably made of titanium or harmonic steel.
The invention thus conceived can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all components can be replaced with technically equivalent elements. In particular, the system or means for connecting the arm, bridge or hinge to the lens means of the eyewear, may be coupled with any other portion or front part of the eyewear.
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